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May 22, 2006

Clark County Mental Health Services

CLARK COUNTY CRISIS LINE:
Phone: (360) 696-9560, if you are NOT a Medicaid-eligible consumer.
Toll Free: (800) 626-8137, if you are a Medicaid-eligible consumer.

Additional websites:

http://www.co.clark.wa.us/mental-health/

Frequently Asked Questions:
http://www.co.clark.wa.us/mental-health/faq.html

What a scramble today turned out to be.

It's our medium's blessing and our curse. The blessing is we are immediate. We can bring you a story right away. The curse is that usually doesn't jive with our interview subjects schedule.

It's hard to put together a quality story in such a short amount of time. After spending the morning on the phone, my first interview happened at 1:45pm and the second at 2:30pm. I talked to Dr. J. Michael Albrich at the new Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital who had worked previously in a similar capacity at a Legacy hospital in Portland. Then we jetted over to the new Clark County Community Services building to speak with Cheri Dolezal.

We flew back to the station and set about getting this story on the air by 6. The producer spared an extra 10 seconds today so I was very lucky, but even so I had to leave out some information I wanted to share.

Cheri tells me the state recently listed Clark county as number one in the state in terms of the array and variety of mental health services available. Clark county also trained some 200 "first responders" in dealing with the mentally ill. A first responder is basically anyone who might show up to your house if you call 911-- police, fire, paramedics. The county will train more people in September.

And Cheri had nice things to say about Washington state lawmakers after they recently gave an additional 130 million dollars (80 million last year, another 50 in the short session) to fund mental health services.

And finally, in terms of the 700 people underserved... Cheri says Clark county performs at about the state average... an average she is always looking to improve. Many of those 700 people are hispanic according to special mapping the county does to determine who is getting left behind. As a result, the county is working on more outreach for that underserved population.

Email me: sstricklen@kgw.com

And an interesting note from a reader of this blog... any of you ever go through one of these??

Hi Steph...

Was meaning to share this with you, but I've been busy at work and at home (all the nice weather and all!).

A year ago, I went to Hong Kong and China (my old stomping grounds) with my wife and in-laws. In Beijing, 4 out of the five of us got very sick with a respiratory ailment. Rarely have I ever gotten something that really prevented me from doing anything other than laying in bed, but I tell you, I was in bad shape with a fever, nausea, et al. It really put a damper on the visit.

Anyhow, as we were navigating Beijing's choking traffic to catch our flight back to Hong Kong, I was talking to our cab driver (polishing up my Mandarin), I told him I was sick and he said "You know, if you have a fever they won't let you fly." I assured him I didn't have a fever, while crossing my fingers behind my back as I wasn't entirely sure if I had one or not.

We boarded the flight and landed in Hong Kong. There, all inbound flights originating in China require passengers to pass through this Sci-Fi looking infrared sensor. It looked like a small turnstile, but with a large LCD screen showing the heat signatures of everyone that passed through it. Airport officials asked me to remove my ball cap, and I passed through hoping that whatever fever I had was gone. I was nervous that men in white suits would jump out and throw me in a quarantine room.

Luckily, I was a normal temperature. I learned this sensor was there to detect high body temperatures that might indicate SARS or the bird flu. The next day, just to be safe, my wife's family (they live in Hong Kong) spirited me to a hospital where I got some medication, and was declared 'bird flu free'..apparently I only had some other less serious flu.

I'm glad they take it seriously there..as any outbreak could be a deadly situation.

Wow!!! I wonder if our crews will have to go through something like that when KGW travels to China for the next Olympics?!

Posted by Stephanie Stricklen at 5:07 PM |

May 19, 2006

Never take it for granted...

I found this story on the associated press wire and decided I MUST share it with you in full. It's not the sort of story I can really do locally.. and certainly even if I could this article would run circles around whatever I could turn. After reading this, I think I will certainly whine less when it comes time for me to get out there for my morning jog or trip to the gym. Please share your thoughts: sstricklen@kgw.com

By DONNA ABU-NASR Associated Press Writer

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- Under their modest flowing robes,
two-thirds of Saudi women are too fat.

They can try dieting, but you won't find many in aerobics
classes or power-walking along this city's walking trails. And very
few of their daughters attend schools that have physical education
classes.

There are no laws against women exercising outside their homes,
but in this conservative society many are influenced by scholars
and clerics who argue against it.

In Riyadh, hotel gyms and pools are off limits to women. Along
the city's walking trails, where the women walk covered in the
mandatory black cloaks, they are sometimes harassed by the muttawa.

Rana al-Abdullah said one such official ordered her to go back
to her car when she was out walking one day and wouldn't leave her
alone until she did. She now walks in malls.

Many Saudis say they are baffled by the religious arguments.

At a clinic that treats obesity-related diseases, a booklet left
by a writer named Muhammad al-Habdan, warned that if girls' schools
began P.E., Saudi girls would have to change into workout gear --
and good girls should not disrobe outside their homes. Changing in
a locker room might cause them to lose the shyness that is the
hallmark of good morals, the booklet warned.

It went on to say that the girls might become attracted to each
other after seeing their classmates in tight leotards and tops.

Changing such attitudes has become the goal of many
health-conscious women who are alarmed about the rising rate of
obesity in their country.

About 52 percent of Saudi Arabia's men and 66 percent of women
are either obese or overweight, according to Saudi press reports.
Among adolescents the rate is 18 percent and in preschoolers over
15 percent.

Health officials blame the plush, oil-fueled Saudi lifestyle for
the expanding waistlines. As Saudis have become richer, they have
abandoned fiber-rich meals for fast food and meat-based dishes.
They have brought in millions of Asian workers to do manual jobs.
And they are addicted to technology that encourages staying at home
in front of a computer or the TV.

"We're a very affluent society, so we have the luxury not to
have to move," said Yasmin al-Tuwaijri, an epidemiologist who
studies the obesity epidemic at a leading Riyadh hospital.

Mindful of the dangers of obesity, the government is trying to
educate its citizens about obesity and the diseases related to it.
Almost daily, Saudi newspapers, which are government-guided, carry
tips on healthy eating and exercise. The Health Ministry and a
women's charity, Al-Nahda Philanthropic Society for Women, are
spearheading campaigns to encourage Saudis to start moving.

Last year, during the fasting month of Ramadan, when people tend
to put on weight because of the rich meals after fasting, the
ministry set up an information center where Saudis could get health
information by phone and fax.

Most of the callers to the "Hello Ramadan" program were women
who wanted to learn about diabetes, high blood pressure and
obesity.

Yet the efforts are not making Saudis leaner.

"It's because the whole environment doesn't support a change in
lifestyle," said al-Tuwaijri.

One of those lifestyle changes is getting more women to work
out. But it's not just a matter of persuading them to get off their
couches. It's changing a mentality that believes that workouts in
schools, gyms or outdoors are an evil that will lead, through
giving women more freedoms, to the decline of society.

"The Muslim woman should realize that she is a target for
corruption," said al-Habdan in another booklet on why women should
not go to fitness clubs.

"There is no faster way to corrupt nations than the
emancipation of women -- that is getting her out on the street to
entice men and ruin their morals," he added.

Several years ago, some members of the appointed Consultative
Council, the closest thing Saudi Arabia has to a Parliament, raised
the issue of physical education in girls' schools.

Those who voted against it pointed out that exercise classes in
boys' schools have not had much effect on male obesity, according
to press reports. That is the same argument al-Habdan makes in his
booklets.

Badria al-Bani, a member of the walking campaign al-Nahda is
spearheading, said the group's effort will focus on raising
awareness among Saudi men of the importance of exercise in a
woman's life.

"The first point many women have raised is this point," she
said.

She said the group will suggest that girls' schools dedicate 15
minutes of the lunch break for walking. "Isn't that better for the
girls than eating?" she asked.

Some months ago, veteran Arab News columnist Abeer Mishkhas said
she "was basking in the glow of satisfaction" at some of the
successes women had made in 2005 when an article caught her eye and
mocked her.

It was a Ministry of Education press release that said rumors
that girls' schools will have P.E. classes soon were baseless and
misleading. And it reprimanded newspapers for suggesting the
possibility.

Posted by Stephanie Stricklen at 10:12 AM |

May 18, 2006

Crisis Line

This story got its start when the folks at the crisis line called me to see if I'd be available to emcee an upcoming fundraiser. I typically always say yes to those sorts of requests, especially when they come from not-for-profit agencies. As it turns out, I was already at another event and couldn't do both.

logo.gif

But in talking to them and hearing about the women and children they help, I started to formulate a potential story in my mind. The first thing I asked was if a woman helped by the hotline would be willing to share her story. Founder Paula Lucas actually found a woman and we were off and rolling.

I'm glad everyone was willing to share thier stories with me, so I could in turn share them with you. The crisis line's mission is a much needed one, which brings me to my next point.

The crisis line needs help. It is staffed by 2.5 employees and about two dozen volunteers. Paula says she'd like to have more people able to give of their time. She also needs to raise additional funds.

Here is a link to her website:

http://www.866uswomen.org/

Check it out.. it has lots of good information and you might someday know someone abroad who could use its help.

Email me: sstricklen@kgw.com

Posted by Stephanie Stricklen at 4:13 PM |

Vitamins & Minerals

I pitched this story this morning along with one on the cervical cancer vaccine, the new Parkinsons drug, and a norovirus update. Considering just about everyone I know takes vitamin supplements, it wasn't surprising when my boss assigned it to me.

Estimates suggest as many of 1/3rd to 1/2 of all Americans take some kind of vitamin or supplement and the industry as a whole is worth billions of dollars annually.

Here is more information than you ever wanted on vitamins from the NIH website:

http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/may2006/od-17.htm

And, if you want even more then check this out:

http://consensus.nih.gov/

I know not everyone will agree with the findings of the panel. It is also important to note it didn't recommend people stop taking vitamins... the panel just couldn't give it a thumbs up or a thumbs down saying we need better studies find out what works and what doesn't.

And finally, Sonja Connor at OHSU echoed something I had already read elsewhere. The people who might benefit the most from vitamins are those who can't afford them. If someone is juggling feeding a family and paying rent or buying medicine... a supplement is going to be on the very bottom of the "must have" list.

Email me: sstricklen@kgw.com

Posted by Stephanie Stricklen at 3:44 PM |

May 16, 2006

Bird flu

The whole bird flu thing really interests me. I remember when I first pitched it as a potential story more than a year ago. I got some blank stares as I tried to explain why they should let me cover a story about a virus that loves to kill chickens in Asia. They trusted me.. and so it began. I've done multiple stories on bird flu and have learned a lot along the way. I always try to keep it logical and not sensational. This is something we need to be aware of, prepared for... but not freak out about.

Here are a few additional points from tonite's story to share with you.

Bird flu is not new. And there are many strains. The strain that gets so much airplay lately is called 'H5N1'.

Here is an image of H5N1 (in gold) that the CDC lets us use as long as we credit the agency and the photographer Cynthia Goldsmith.

cdch5n1.jpg

The biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) says H5N1 is about a decade old or so and is now likely headed here.

Here is a link to the ODFW Fact sheet on bird flu:

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/avian-flu/

I've heard from the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) that people are worried about eating poultry. I'm happy to say that IF H5N1 bird flu made it to Oregon and IF it somehow got into commercial chicken houses and IF no one caught it and the poultry made it to your dinner table..... there is no risk to you if you properly cook your chicken (which is a good idea for lots of reasons).

Here's more from the ODA:

http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/AHID/animal_health/ai.shtml

And let me include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention take on bird flu:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/index.htm

Finally, one gentleman emailed me posing an interesting thought. I asked for a poultry expert's take on it. Here are both:

Email:

I cannot understand why the Dept of Ag insists on depopulating chicken
flocks that become infected with bird flu, when they are in controlled
conditions. The disease is not going away in the wild, it will always
be with us. A vaccine for chickens only allows a genetically
susceptible animal to resist infection--it does nothing to address that
susceptibility. Their strategy virtually guarantees this will be a
major problem for the forseeable future.

If they would allow the disease to run it's course in a flock, even
deliberately infecting it, certainly the virus would multiply, perhaps
contaminating that house forever. Every chicken that gets sick or dies
needs to be burned/buried. But in the way diseases always go, there
are certain to be a few birds that have an inherent, genetic resistance
or immunity. Those birds are crucial to breeding flocks which are
inherently secure from the current disease, and closely related strains
that the birds' immune system can identify.

Here is Jim Hermes' response. He's an Extention poultry expert.

Here are some of the possible reasons why depopulation is the typical
response to these virulent disease organisms. These are not in any
order of importance.

1. With very hot disease organisms, they kill so many animals from a
population that the genetic diversity, which is limited to begin with
will be even further reduced. This will initiate other problems
including the increased susceptibly to other disease organisms which
could then wipe out the strain. In virtually every case, during genetic
selection for a particular trait other beneficial traits are reduced or
lost.

2. During this process, survivors may be genetically inferior in some
economic traits which could make the poultry industry economical
noncompetitive.

3. Following selection, the surviving population may take years to
re-establish causing the industry to go bankrupt. (Profit margins in
poultry meat and eggs are very small)

4. If exposure is too high, even animals that are genetically resistant
may succumb to the organism further reducing the gene pool, and not
accurately selecting resistant birds.

5. Once the selection process is complete and we now have strains that
are resistant to the H5N1 virus, another High Path influenza virus (for
example; H7N2) will become prevalent and wipe out the "resistant"
strains. Influenza is particularly good at rapidly changing; this is
why we must get flu shots annually because the prevalent virus is
different than last year's.

Genetic selection has worked in poultry in the past. Salmonella
pullorum, a disease that would kill 30-40% of poultry annually in the
1930s was selected against by testing and breeding through the National
Poultry Improvement Plan, is now virtually extinct in commercial chicken
flocks. More recently, the J-virus (a herpes virus) was found in
broiler breeders. Through strict testing and breeding it is not now the
problem it has been in the past. In both of these cases, these are
relatively stable (genetically) organisms. Influenza is not.

Shoot me an email: sstricklen@kgw.com

Posted by Stephanie Stricklen at 3:55 PM |

May 11, 2006

www.healthgrades.com

It's always good when I get calls about a story before it even airs. In this case people saw the promos which are basically like commercials for an upcoming story. Sorry to tell you we don't give you the gist of the story over the phone before the story has even aired. You have to watch. I know, I know... but, those are the rules they want me to follow. :-)

Here are few additional bits of information about tonite's story.

We also researched Dr. Jerome Lentini who made a plea agreement after investigators said he injected more than 800 people with essentially a fake botox not approved for use on humans. His records showed up on the healthgrades.com website (which makes sense since they are 'younger' than 5 years). But, we had to drop that because of time.

Let me give you a few links now:

http://www.healthgrades.com

One of its competitors:

http://www.choicetrust.com

Search the Oregon board of Medical Examiners website:

http://www.bme.state.or.us/search.html

Search the Washington Department of Health website:

https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/hpqa1/Application/Credential_Search/profile.asp

Thoughts on this?? Email me: sstricklen@kgw.com

Regarding the pedicure story.. LOTS of comments to tell you about. Here are a few.

One gentleman who says he has worked in the industry wrote with these comments:

Being in the business for over 30 years, I feel that most of the salons do not clean their pedicure thrones properly. At the salon and day spa which I work at, we clean every pedicure throne for 15min. We hand scrub and disenfect the bowls after every pedicure. We follow all OAR's from the state regarding disenfecting the bowls. If more salons did this there would be no problems arising. Our state board needs to crack down on cleaning. Unfortunately there are not enough inspectors to do this job and I feel that if more people were warned of the harzards of improper cleaning then the public wouldn't be at risk. DO NOT get a pedicure if you feel the bowl has not been properly cleaned. Every manufacture has their own cleaning products that they suggest a salon use. If salons are not sure which disenfectants to use then call the State Board of Health Licensing.

This is just one man's opinion, but I feel that ever time a guest puts his or her feet in our bowls, that they are completely safe.

An official with the Oregon Health Licensing Agency wrote in response to a caller's thoughts I posted in a different blog posting:

Thanks for the coverage to help prevent more bacterial infections such as the one described on your segment last night. And thank you for the link on your blog. I don’t know if the problem is that it’s difficult for nail technicians to keep up with requirements, as one commented [Steph's note: see "Troubled Toes" blog posting for the original comment] – our enforcement officers inspect thousands of facilities annually and part of the inspection process is to educate practitioners. We have several brochures just on nail salon safety on our Web site for both consumers and practitioners. We also publish a full page of regulatory news monthly in Northwest Stylist & Salon, which is distributed FREE to more than 4000 cosmetology facilities (including nail salons) and more than 6000 independent contractors.

And finally, one woman wrote me to say this:

Thanks for the piece on salons. As it happens, my daughter are having pedicures on Mother's Day.

She goes on to say: I guess the most important question is how often is the filter cleaned and with what. The salon we use already has you bring your own sponge, brush and skin emery boards. The only thing they supply is the thing they use to cut off any callus. I certainly won't be nicking my legs before the pedicure.

Yup, no more shaving of those legs. I'll be right there with you!! :-)

Posted by Stephanie Stricklen at 1:25 PM |

May 10, 2006

Troubled Toes

I feel sorry for the poor pedicure technician the next time I go get my toes done since I can basically guarantee I will stop shaving my legs right before my next visit.

But I feel doubly sorry for Erika who is pregnant, on pain medication and worried about the health of her unborn child. She has been through the ringer the past two years.

We chose to leave out the closeup shot of her healing wound just because it was too graphic and required precious seconds of set up time (you know, where the reporter or anchor warns you about the footage you're about to see). Besides, the wider shot we used was just as effective at setting up the problem.

Again, to reinforce what we covered.. cases of infection from a whirlpool tub are rare. I should say rare, but not unheard of. Hopefully those tips will help you reduce any risk you might run into.

And for more background information here are some important links you can use:

This link has excellent information about the type of bacteria we are talking about:

The Department of Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Here is additional information:

www.nurseweek.com

And here is a great way to check out the status of a nail salon's license in Oregon and Washington:

Oregon's website ((click on License Inquiry)): http://www.oregon.gov/OHLA/COS/index.shtml

Washington's website ((click on Check License Status)): http://www.dol.wa.gov/plss/cosfront.htm

Want to share your thoughts on this topic?? Email me at: sstricklen@kgw.com

One nail technician who heard I was working on this story already called to tell me that she thinks many salons do the minimum when it comes to cleanliness, but she believes part of the problem is that it's hard for salons to keep up with (or even know about) the board requirements.

I bet I'll hear from a lot of people between now and the next few days on this........

Posted by Stephanie Stricklen at 2:55 PM |

May 3, 2006

Asian Bird Flu & Your Chicken Dinner

A couple of additional key points about tonite's story... first, bird flu has always been an issue for poultry growers (they call themselves growers, not farmers). What's important is the strain of bird flu you're talking about. The asian strain is problematic for birds because it is very contagious, etc. It's problematic for people because of the possibility it could mutate into something that spreads easily between people. Right now, people can get it but they have to be very, very close to birds and it's unlikely that would be a problem in our American culture.

Second, it really is okay to eat chicken if bird flu arrived. The odds of an infected bird reaching our table are very slim AND if you cook the chicken properly to 165 degrees then it would kill any virus anyway. Yet another good reason to dust off that meat thermometer.

And finally, a side-note about what happens when asian bird flu strikes an area abroad. An OSU extention poutlry expert says poultry consumption drops in the area in some cases by 30%, 40%, or even 50%. Big American producers can't export as much chicken so they keep it here domestically and dump it into the market at low prices (once their huge storage freezers are at capacity). That impacts Oregon growers because it lowers prices for everyone.

If asian bird flu hit Oregon.. would you stop eating chicken?

Email me and let me know: sstricklen@kgw.com

On the Phenergan story a gentlemen who emails me from time to time writes: "Hey, Vistarol (for me) is a better choice... Whenever I'm in the hospital (which as of late I have not) as a patient, I always ask for Visterol because nothing beats it for beating nausea after surgery.

Just one dudes (who's had 15 brain ops, 2 eye ops, appendectomy, 4 otho ops), opinion.

Posted by Stephanie Stricklen at 4:33 PM |

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